The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-02-12
-esl-ss na,a..L ar

the lists of invalid pensions of the
United States, and be entitled to
receive for such total inability to pro-
cure their subsistences by daily labor
$l2 per month.
81 1t is not probable that the words last
quoted, "such total liability to procure
their subsistence by daily labor" at all
qualities the conditions prescribed in
the preceding language of the section
1.-The total inability" spoken of, must be
such inability, that is the in
ability already described and consti-
tuted by the conditions already
detailed in the previous part
of the section. 1t thus becomes i'm
portant to consider the meaning and
scope of these last mentioned condi-
tons. The mental and physical dis
ability spoken of has distinct bearing
in the practice of the pension bureau
and includes every impairment Of
bodily or mental strength and vigor.
For such disabilities there are now pal =
13l different rates of pensions ranging
from 500 to 5000 per month. This dis
ability must not be the result of the
applicants s
VICIOUS HABITS
or gross carelessness. Practically, this
provision is not important. If govern
ment desired to escape the payment of
the pensions on such plea, it would,
of course, in very large majority of
instances, and regardless of the merl Is
of the case, prove failure. There
would be that strange but nearly uni
yersal Willingness to help an individual
| as between him and the public treasury
which goes very far to insure state Of
proof in favor of the claimant. The
disability of the applicants must be
such as to "incapacitate them for per-
Torrance of labor in such degree
as to render them 9 unable to
earn their own support. 1t will be OBJ
served that there is no limitation or
definition of the incapacitating injury
or ailment itself. 1t need only be such
degree of disability from any cause
as renders the claimant unable'to earn
his support by labor. 1t seems that
the support" here mentioned as one
which could be earned IS complete
and entire support, with no diminu-
ton on account of the least Impair
ment of the physical or mental 'condi-
ton. If it had been intended to en-
brace only those who, by disease or
injury. were totally unable to labor,
it would be very easy to express that
idea, instead OF recognizing, as is done,
the degree" of such inability. = ~ y
WHAT Is SUPPORT? rG
Who is to determine whether the man
earns it, or has it not? Is government
to enter the homes OF the claimants for
pension and after an examination of
their surroundings and circumstances
settle these questions? Shall the gov
eminent say TO one man that his man
ner of subsistence by his earnings is
support, and to another, the things
his earnings furnish are not
support Any attempt, however
honest, to administer this law in such q
manner would necessarily produce
more unfairness and unjust discrimin-
alton, and give more scope for partisan
partially, than the execution of any
statute ought to permit.
If, in an effort to carry out the pro-
posed law, the degree of disability as re-
lated to the earnings be considered for
the purpose of discovering if, in any
way, it curtails the part which the ap-
plicant, if entirely sound, should earn,
and to which he is entitled, we enter the
broad field long occupied by the pension
bureau, and we recognize as the only
difference between the proposed legisla-
ton and the previous laws passed for
the benefit of the surviving soldiers of
the civil war-incurred in one case Of
disabilities existing, but in no way con-
nected with or resulting from such ser
vice, it must be borne in mind that
in no case is there any grading for this
proposed pension under the operation
of the rule first suggested. If there is a
lack in any degree, great or small, OF
earning such support as government de-
termines the claimant should have,
and by the application of the
rule secondly suggested if there
is reduction in any degree of the sup
port which he might earn if sound, he
is entitled to a pension OF $12. In the
latter case, and under the provisions
of the proposed bill, permitting
persons now receiving pension to. be
admitted to the benefit of its acts, l do
not see how those on the pension roll
for disabilities in service which dlmin-
lshed their earning capacity, can be
denied the pension provided in this bill.
OF course, none will apply who are
receiving $12 or more per month,
but on June 30th. 1896, there were
on the pension rolls 20,262 persons
who were receiving So different rates of
pensions, from Sc to $I1.T5 per month.
OF these 21,S41 were receiving $28 per
month; So, 81 per month; 81 ,254, Sc per
month and so, 274, whose disabilities
were rated as total, So per month. As
to the meaning of the section of the bill
under consideration, there appears to
have been quite difference of opinion
among the advocates in Congress. The
chairman of the committee on pensions
IN THE HOUSE
of Representatives, as it was reported,
declared that in it there was
no provision for the pension Of
anyone who has less disability
than total disability to labor,
and declared that it not only embraced
all soldiers totally disabled, but, in his
Judgment, all who are disabled to any
considerable ex ,ent, and such construc-
ton was substantially given to the bill
by another distinguished Senator, who,
asln the former Secretary OF the In
terror, had imposing on him the duty of
executing the pension laws and deter
mining their intent and meaning. An
her condition required OF the claim
- 4bef h u ho do